History, Magic, Teens, & Not An Inkling of Romance

First of all, Thirteenth Child's lack of romance is extremely refreshing. There are a lot of YA series out there with strong female leads, and there's almost always a romance in there... but not here. Maybe in the later books.

Eff isn't unique in her tomboy-ish characteristics; that's a familiar trope in modern YA literature, but she's more Laura Ingalls or Jo March than Katniss Everdeen. She's remarkably normal for a world full of magic - then again, this is a world where magic is seen as a given, and its the Revisionists (affirmed non-magic users) are seen as radical.

Wrede writes a world that makes no bones about life with magic being easier, and finds suitable, unexpected consequences for that magic. Magic in Columbia isn't opposite of nature, it's an instrinic part of it - and as our environment adapts and changes with our use of it, so the magic does in Eff's world.

Amanda Ronconi is a fine narrator, and I liked what she did with Eff's character and did adore the voices she chose for the men - particularly Wash, a character who appears about 2/3 of the way through the book. I don't know if it was a specific choice on her part, but she made Eff and Lan's voice relatively similar (they're twins!) and I liked that. Otherwise, the narration was a little slow, but it suited the tone of the story.

Overall, the plot isn't particularly surprising or exciting, but it's a solid tale with good world creation, and fleshed-out characters. I was able to stop and start listening with relative ease... I think it took me about two weeks to go through it, listening for a few hours every couple of days. It was easy to fall back into the story, and Amanda Ronconi helped with that familiarity a lot.

61 people found this helpful

Wild Magic in the Wild West

Any additional comments?

Eff is the twin sister of the seventh son of a seventh son. She is also a thirteenth born. In this alternate universe just after the War of Secession, birth order is an important factor in this world where magic and ordinary live in uncomfortable partnership. From her birth, members of the family point out everything bad as her fault and are waiting for her to turn evil. She begins to believe it. In contrast, her brother's exalted magical status makes him lucky and magical beyond belief.

When the twins are five years old, their father gets a job as a professor of a college on the western frontier. Their father, a professor of magic, is an exciting addition to this college. The twins and the other siblings grow up and flourish in this environment. Eff learns confidence, makes friends, and learns to think through the negative message about her birth order.

There are lots of adventures and explorations in this entertaining novel of a world and history not-quite-ours.

This was an audio book and the narrator did a wonderful job capturing the different accents, genders, and the character of Eff.

16 people found this helpful

marvelous performance nice coming of age story

I would never have gotten this if it hadn't been on 3.99 special. This IS a YA story but its a good one, so it works for me. I think the Laura Ingalls meets Harry Potter tag is apt as far as it goes - but in this one Magic isn't a secret world - its a mainstream political issue. I am interested in seeing how the sort of "amish" no magic fringe plays out. Its always good to investigate ways of resisting.

Its a slow but engaging start - the pov girl is only 5 when the story opens but she hears things, and shes 13 or so by the middle.

I usually avoid female narrators. Not always, mind- there are several that I really like - its a tone/ pitch thing I think- but this performance is great. There are subtleties of accent and pitch that are mindblowing and shes never ever squeaky.

13 people found this helpful

Great story-total surprise- next one please

Great series start. I was pleasantly wowed by this unknown author, as we follow Eff, the "unlucky" thirteenth child as she grows into her magical own. What I loved: book translated to adults. No formula love triangle. Female heroine. Good adventure. Good storytelling...and great narrator. The bad: Could have had some more complex characters. Overall, a great, light adventure tale that I really enjoyed- hope they release the next two soon!

12 people found this helpful

Refreshingly un-teen angsty

Let me start by saying I liked this book enough to read all of them in just a few days.

The book had been in my wish list for quite some time, and I just kept ignoring it fearing it was another teen romance just set in a new place (which it is not). I finally gave it a listen because of the narrator she is one of my favorites. There are a few that I am willing to try any book they have read Amanda Ronconi, Renée Raudman, Lorelei King, Cynthia Holloway, and Marguerite Gavin. I am happy I did.

This book has been compared with the Harry Potter series. I do not really get that (except for the magic). Rowlings is absolutely brilliant, and gives rich twisting details to her plot and characters, but the kid going to wizzarding school has been done before (not as well mind you). Wrede's story felt different to me. I am not sure I have read a book like it before.

The story follows Eff (don't let the name bother you like it did me it is a nickname). She is born the thirteenth child of a seventh son. She also has a twin that is the 7th son of the 7th son (which we have seen before). She is told for most of her young life that being the 13th is a bad thing. Through out the story the idea of the thirteenth child is explored, and through it Eff grows and starts to find out who she no matter what order she was born in.

I like the family dynamics in this book. It gave the story more depth. They were not all lovey dovey all of the time but they did love each other. From the twin who was the favorite whether he wanted to be or not, to the older bossy sister they enriched the story. I adored the parents. It was nice to have kind loving caring parents rather than the mean, indifferent, quirky, uncaring, or too busy parents that have been in a lot of the books I have read recently. This probably where the Laura Anne Wilder comparisons come in (that and the west themed)

I love a good western, and this was. Yes there was magic but you still had the horses and a lot of the other stuff that goes into westerns. What made it interesting is the idea that the town is along the Mammoth (Mississippi) River and that on the other side of it is all of these creatures from dragons to mammoths to wooly rihnasorous to bison. If you simply cross the river where the magic wall is you are taking your life into your own hands.

It was nice not to have a romance instead Wrede concentrated on Eff finding out who she is. I highly recommend this series

5 people found this helpful

If the "Little House on the Prairie" had magic.

Interesting concept. I liked it enough to finish listening to it and ended in a place that suggests a sequel. Nothing terribly new or exciting for the fantasy reader. Might be a fun story for the fans of "Ann of Green Gables" or "Sara, Plain and Tall"

15 people found this helpful

Little House on the Prairie meets Harry Potter

Wow, I really enjoyed the first book of this series. As I understand it, imagine the 1800's and the Wild West mixed in with wild unbelievable creatures (including mammoths!) and magic as part of the everyday lives of these pioneers. The author does a great job at the world creation of this alternative reality, and though the descriptive aspect of the series might turn off some readers, it's well balanced with good character development and some adventure. The reader, Amanda Ronconi, is a favorite of mine from the Molly Harper books, but she does a great job reading for this new series. It could use a little bit of romance, though there's a hint of something in the air, but I guess I'll need to read the rest of the books to find out if my feelings are correct. I really look forward to the rest of the series.

13 people found this helpful

Fun, but not much plot

Read from August 02 to 14, 2014

What a fun book! I did find myself wondering several times while listening where it was going and what the point was, as there isn't really much of a linear plot to it; but it was engaging enough to overlook that for the most part. The audiobook had a sample of the second book in the series, too, and now I'm really looking forward to that one.

2 people found this helpful

Steam Dragons!!

Missed it by that much.
Patricia invents an interesting alternate world, which supposedly has dire wolves, steam dragons, mammoths, wooly rhinos, sphinx, sabre cats and more. This universe has glimpses of Card's Seventh Son and Sanderson's The Rithmathist. The problem, as with a lot of teen books, is the writing style. The writing is similar to a little kid writing a letter. Hi, I am fine, how are you? The book supposedly has all the animals mentioned above, but with the exception of a run in with a mammoth and a dead steam dragon, we just hear they exist, they take no part in the story. Lots of the story is just tedious things, that could be going on in anybody's life.

What I did like.
This book is pro parents, school and teachers. The parents in this book, especially the mom are the best part. The mom is extremely level headed (unless you think she should quit having children.) The teachers are positive and challenge the students. School is looked at as something important. I also listened to the whole book, which I often don't do with a book that is not five star material.

Amanda Ronconi
I didn't feel that Amanda was all in for this reading. At times she sounded rather drool. The first few chapters, it sounded like she was mad at somebody. At other times it sounded like she was enjoying her work. I especially liked her voice for the teacher. It reminded me of one of the regular women on NPR.

Teen books and or children books
I have a real problem with this category. It seems that if the writing is substandard and the main character is young, then it is automatically put in this category. Sanderson, Card and others have shown that you can write books aimed at a younger crowd and have them still be exciting, interesting reads, that even adults will like. An editor should have made PW go back and put more life into this book.

18 people found this helpful

A fascinating alternate history for our land

Eff struggles to find her place while seeking to limit the damage she might cause, what with being the thirteenth child born to her family and the older twin to her brother Lan, a seventh son of a seventh son. Everyone knows, after all, that Double Sevens are both lucky and powerful natural magicians, while thirteenth children are bad luck to have around and certain to go bad. But in trying to control the curse she fears lies on her, is Eff likely to destroy her own considerable magic power?

Far from the prejudice shown by her father's family back east, Eff finds Mill City on the Mammoth River to offer far more acceptance than she'd known as a small child. And as she grows she becomes increasingly fascinated by the lands west of the Great Divide where a powerful magic boundary runs along the river, keeping creatures such as mammoths and wooly rhinos, sphinxes and ice dragons west of the mixed spells set up to protect the settled lands. In this alternate United States, after all, magic is a real source of power; and it is both respected and necessary for those who wish to settle in the plains west of the river. Or, is it as necessary as is commonly believed?

Patricia Wrede has written a fascinating first volume in what promises to be an entertaining and thought-provoking series of a girl growing up on the leading edge of a growing nation in which magic is a common feature of life. Perhaps inspired equally by Laura Ingals Wilder, J.K. Rowling, and Orson Scott Card's Alvin Maker series. Narration is good, but could be better, I think.

1 person found this helpful